"Twenty-first-century farm economics stimulate farmers to increase the size of their operations. To improve labor efficiency, farm equipment usually increases in size.
Tractors, combines, forage harvesters, grain and forage
wagons, manure spreaders, and lime trucks are all bigger
than they used to be. Twenty years ago, for example,
2.5-ton box-type manure spreaders were common in
Pennsylvania, whereas today liquid manure spreaders
may weigh 20 or 30 tons. The increasing size of farm
equipment may cause significant soil compaction that
can negatively affect soil productivity as well as
environmental quality. This fact sheet focuses on ways
to avoid soil compaction."

"Pork production facilities have increased in size in recent years, and large operations now account for the majority of the pigs raised in the United States. This 28-page manual provides planning agencies, township supervisors, regulatory agencies, and hog farmers with a tool to gauge plans for developing a new swine farm or improving an existing site."

"At some point in time all dairy farmers will be exiting the dairy business for various reasons. Whatever the reason, proper planning and organization can make for a smooth and more orderly transition. There are many things to consider when properly planning and organizing your exiting from the dairy business. An agenda of topics has been put together for future workshops. If you are interested in putting on or attending a workshop, contact Dave Dowler or the other members of the committee for more information."

"Horse fence can be one of the most attractive features of a horse facility. But not all fence is suitable for horses. Fencing is a major capital investment that should be carefully planned before construction. Well-constructed and maintained fences enhance the aesthetics and value of a stable facility, which in turn complements marketing efforts. Poorly planned, haphazard, unsafe, or unmaintained fences will detract from a facility?s value. This 12-page publication presents information useful in planning fences for horse facilities. The emphasis is on sturdy,safe horse fence typically used in the eastern United States and Canada."

"Soil compaction is a serious concern for farmers in Pennsylvania. Soil compaction can easily reduce crop yields by 10 percent, and can lead to water and soil quality degradation due to increased runoff and soil structure destruction. The continuous consolidation of farms means that herds are growing, more forage is harvested per farm, more manure is being produced, larger equipment is used to spread manure and harvest and transport forages and grain, and the opportunity to tailor field operations to optimum soil conditions for traffic is decreasing. Compaction is therefore an issue that will likely increase in importance in the years to come."

"Almost all decision-making in agriculture, in the boardrooms of industry or on the tractor seats of farms, affects the distribution of materials such as crops and manure within farms, and the movement of materials such as feeds and farm products to and from farms. Most common farm materials contain important plant nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and are moved as part of the everyday activities of farming and agriculture. As a result, the many factors considered in each management decision affect plant nutrient distribution and have implications for nutrient management to meet the many expectations."